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Allina Hospitals & Clinics establishes new Center for Healthcare Innovation
$100 million Center will be a 'living laboratory' for researching new care models and treatments to transform health and health care
MINNEAPOLIS 06/11/2008--Allina Hospitals & Clinics today announced it is creating a new, $100 million Center for Healthcare Innovation to support innovations in both clinical and population health research that can be translated to improved health for patients and the wider community.
The Allina Board of Directors has authorized a $50 million investment over the next five years, with $10 million to be invested annually. The organization intends to raise an additional $50 million over five years in partnership with private corporations, foundations and through sponsored research and grant-making organizations.
"Our board has made a bold and visionary commitment to transforming health care. The Center will advance Allina's strategic vision and serve as a catalyst for change in health care locally and nationally," said Dick Pettingill, Allina president and CEO. "We know that to improve health care, we must improve health. Our community challenged us to do more and our board stepped up to that challenge in a way that is unique nationally among non-profit health systems."
The Center was born both from Allina's business strategy and vision, but also in response to community leaders who called on Allina to do more to transform the health of communities.
Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) is one of those leaders. "This is truly a transformative decision by Allina," Huntley said. "If we are to tackle the challenges facing our health care system, it is critical for health care organizations, such as Allina, to partner with communities to improve health and promote innovative approaches to care. The fact Allina has stepped up speaks volumes to the values and vision of their leadership."
Focusing on community health and clinical research
Areas of focus for the new Center include:
- new models of care and coverage for populations currently underserved
- investment in innovative community health initiatives
- developing new approaches to care and disseminating that knowledge
- supporting and expanding clinical research throughout Allina to improve patient care.
"Allina's vision is to improve patient care by providing comprehensive primary and acute care, preventing illness, stemming rising health care costs, and using evidence-based practices to partner with patients to manage chronic illness," said Ed Spencer, Jr., chair, Allina Board of Directors. "This vision creates an urgent need for new research and innovation that supports and advances that work."
Three inaugeral projects to be launched
The Center will launch with three inaugural projects:
- The Heart of New Ulm
The Heart of New Ulm is an innovative and visionary effort to eliminate heart attacks in the community of New Ulm, Minn. Today, nearly 90 percent of New Ulm residents are New Ulm Medical Center patients and therefore have a record in Allina's electronic medical record system. This level of participation by one community in the electronic record system provides an unparalleled and robust database for understanding population health and gives Allina the ability to identify patients at risk for cardiovascular disease, ensure they receive early and appropriate interventions, and track their care over time. Combined with public education and awareness, this project promises to go beyond identifying the causes of heart disease to focusing on early intervention and prevention. The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation will partner with Allina in this work.
- The Backyard Project
Allina will extend its historic and long-time commitment to the Phillips and Powderhorn neighborhoods of Minneapolis to improve population health. Allina's system office, largest hospital, Abbott Northwestern, and only specialty eye hospital, Phillips Eye Institute, are all located in this diverse, but health-challenged neighborhood. Bringing together residents, researchers, policy makers, community leaders and others, Allina will forge new models for improving residents' health status and understanding how medical, social, educational and economic factors are interdependent and impact health in its own "backyard" neighborhoods.
- The Allina Center for Patient Safety
Allina will create the "next level" of patient safety efforts by a health system, improving the quality of care and reducing the cost of error. The Center for Patient Safety will be a source of knowledge and information to strengthen cultures of safety across Allina. Through the Center, Allina will develop the leadership skills that build a stronger focus on quality and safety.
"Allina understands that to make a meaningful impact on health, health care organizations must move beyond the walls of their medical centers and clinics," said Steven Schroeder, MD, distinguished professor of health and health care at the University of California San Francisco, and an advisor to Allina leaders on plans for the Center. "Organizations like Allina must partner with communities to advance the latest thinking on community health and optimal treatment and care and conduct research to determine what is effective. The Center will do just that."
The Center for Healthcare Innovation is not intended to duplicate existing public health efforts but rather identify interventions that health care systems are uniquely positioned to lead and which can be replicated locally and nationally. It will be housed in existing Allina facilities, no new construction is planned.
About Allina Hospitals & Clinics
Allina Hospitals & Clinics is a not-for-profit system of hospitals, clinics and other health care services, providing care throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Allina owns and operates 11 hospitals, more than 90 clinics and health care services, including home care, hospice and palliative care, oxygen and medical equipment, pharmacies and emergency medical transportation. More about Allina and the latest health information can be found online at www.allina.com.
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Fact Sheets and Briefs
The Center for Healthcare Innovation at Allina
The Backyard Project
The Heart of New Ulm
Allina Patient Safety Center
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